THE TM 911 Franklin Street Weekly Newspaper Michigan City, IN 46360 Volume 36, Number 40 Thursday, October 8, 2020 for the A Championby Andrew Tallackson Arts You couldn’t fi nd a more vi- brant champion of the arts than Dale Cooper. Consider the many jewels with- in the local arts scene, and you’ll likely fi nd her imprint on them: • Art displays at Visit Michigan City LaPorte tourism bureau. • Serving on the boards of Lu- beznik Center for the Arts, Michigan City Public Art Com- mittee and The Center for Cre- ative Solutions. • Appearing in a NIPSCO com- mercial that in part outlines her “Growing Up Green” en- deavor. • Serving on the committee to honor Naomi Bowman Talbert Anderson — African-American suffragist and Michigan City native — with a sculpture, mosaic or mural in the city’s Charles R. Westcott Park. On Oct. 13, Cooper kicks off Michigan City Art League’s 88th year of fall classes, now held at the Queen of All Saints Com- munity Center, which will afford more room to take social distanc- ing into account. By leading the course, titled “Art of Decoupage,” she again aims to enhance the quality of life in our community, even amid these strange days of COVID-19. And when it comes to Continued on Page 2 Dale Cooper is photographed by The Beacher’s Andrew Tallackson in her Michigan City apartment, relaxing on a bench she upholstered. THE Page 2 October 8, 2020 THE 911 Franklin Street • Michigan City, IN 46360 219/879-0088 Beacher Company Directory e-mail: News/Articles - [email protected] Don and Tom Montgomery Owners email: Classifieds - [email protected] Andrew Tallackson Editor http://www.thebeacher.com/ Drew White Print Salesman PRINTE ITH Published and Printed by Janet Baines Inside Sales/Customer Service T Becky Wirebaugh Typesetter/Designer T A S A THE BEACHER BUSINESS PRINTERS Randy Kayser Pressman Dora Kayser Bindery Delivered weekly, free of charge to Birch Tree Farms, Duneland Beach, Grand Beach, Hidden Shores, Long Beach, Michiana Shores, Michiana MI and Shoreland Hills. The Beacher is Hope Costello, Jacquie Quinlan Production also delivered to public places in Michigan City, New Buffalo, LaPorte and Sheridan Beach. John Baines, Karen Gehr, Dennis Mayberry Delivery A Champion…Continued from Page 1 art, that mission applies to everyone: adults and children. “Artists are important to Michigan City. Point blank,” the Rogers High School graduate said. “We need people who are out there creating things, and most artists create because they have to. There is something in them that they are able to create, and having them be able to display their art in differ- ent places, especially at the visitor center, it gives people a chance to admire their art, to see what is possible for people to do.” Even as a child, Dale says she always needed to be doing something That love of art, of creating, has been part of Coo- with her hands, like crocheting, which she still engages in today. per’s life since childhood. She was born in Alabama, Photo by Andrew Tallackson but moved here with her family when she was 4. It loved art. I can’t believe I kinda have a career still was a large family, what with four boys and three in art, and that I still love it.” girls. Her father could draw and play piano. One of Cooper attended Riley Elementary School (now her brothers, James, was gifted at making hats. By home to the Michigan City Area Schools admin- the time she was 6 or 7, she was drawing, painting, istration building), then Krueger Middle School crocheting. Anything she could get her hands on to and fi nally Rogers High School. One local artist keep her active. she admired was Neil Kienitz, who remains a vital “I liked doing presence in today’s something with my Michigan City arts hands,” she said. scene. At one point, “Even now, if I’m Cooper recalls, she sitting watching TV, even helped Kienitz I’m making paper sell artwork while fl owers or crochet- it was on display at ing. I just like to be Marquette Mall. creating something. “I’m not a fan of “I had a won- art where you can’t derful childhood tell what it is,” she here,” she contin- said with a chuckle. ued. “Michigan City “I like to know what was a great place it is, and I think to grow up. I’m still Neil (Kienitz) cap- friends with peo- tured that for me. ple I went to grade I’m still friends school with. I still with him. I’ve had see a lot of them. his paintings here It was an idyllic (the tourism bu- childhood. And, I reau). We sell his remember being in South Shore paint- high school and go- ings.” ing to the beach and After graduating painting. I always In this undated photo, Dale Cooper sports a hat made by her brother, James. from Rogers, Coo- THE October 8, 2020 Page 3 per attended The University of Alabama because she had family in Birmingham and could stay with DINING GUIDE them while pursuing her degree. Ironically, while her minor in college was art, she majored in com- DDINEINE IINN oorr CCARRYOUTARRYOUT puter science. Why that fi eld of study? $ Cooper laughs. pVwŴÂÉÃúpVwŴÂÉÃú 77.99.99 “I thought it would be a good career,” she ex- plains, “but I just didn’t fi nd it interesting enough ##VZZŴ"Ŵ eV#VVZZŴ"Ŵ eV#V to pursue it.” After college, she briefl y returned to Michigan AŴ"V+ZAŴ"V+Z City, then worked in Chicago for 18 years, fi rst for Nordstrom, then by operating a boutique in The Ap- parel Center in the city’s River North community. When her parents became ill in 2001, she returned R E S T A U R A N T to Michigan City to help care for them. She briefl y found work with Horizon Bank before joining the 422 Franklin St, Michigan City, IN | 219.210-3253 www.FiddleheadMC.com tourism bureau, answering the phones on a part- time basis. The agency, then known as the LaPorte County Convention & Visitors Bureau, was located on Meer Road. Cooper says she suggested to her colleagues they move operations to the current Franklin Street DINE IN • CARRYDINE OUT IN • FREE• CARRY BANQUET OUT ROOM FOR PARTIES location near U.S. 20, which affords the staff in- DELIVERY INCLUDING THE BEACH COMMUNITY creased space — 4,000 square feet — more parking $2 OFF X LARGE/LARGE • $1.50 OFF MEDIUM and better visibility to the public. And as tourism $1 OFF SMALL bureau staff considered the potential for new space during their earliest visits, the wheels were turning Mon-Thurs & Sun 11 am-10 pm • Fri-Sat 11am-11 pm as well for Cooper. 5184 S. Franklin St., Michigan City 872-3838 “I noticed this really long wall, and I thought it We Deliver to Michigan City, Westville and Beach Communities! would make a great art gallery for artists who had no place to display their work,” she said. “So, I start- ed reaching out to artists. We started showing their work, and we used the gift shop to sell their works, too.” Through the tourism bureau, Cooper says she basically invented the type of position that catered to her interests, which is how she became not only its offi ce manager, but also its curator. The bureau’s gallery space has featured everyone from Kienitz and Anneke Dekker to Michigan City Art League and Land of Lakes Art Alliance. Continued on Page 4 WWATCHATCH fforor WWINTERINTER SSPECIALSPECIALS Wed.-Thurs. open 4pm, Fri. - Sun. 11am. Follow us on Facebook for specials & live music events. FULL MENU AVAILABLE FOR TAKE OUT In this provided photo, Dale Cooper is photographed with Interested in advertising in the Dining Guide? Betty Thomas during a Michigan City Art League class. Call us today at (219) 879-0088 THE Page 4 October 8, 2020 Has COVID-19, with its emphasis on social dis- tancing and self-isolation, dampened Cooper’s spir- A Champion…Continued from Page 3 its? True, she says, 2020 has been tough. Fraught Cooper also saw her love of art branch out into with challenges. Staff at the tourism bureau worked other avenues. Like serving on the board of Lu- remotely from home until July 6. The offi ce now is beznik Center for the Arts, through which she says open, but by appointment. Masks must be worn by she’s helped raise a substantial amount of money all who enter the building. Visitors hoping to pick — $40,000, to be precise — so children can attend up a brochure or obtain other information can be art classes. buzzed in by staff. A community recovery team at “Being creative helps you in every single job that the bureau, Cooper says, has been keeping close you have as an adult,” she said. “It helps with prob- tabs on LaPorte County businesses, from hotels, to lem solving, and that’s what I like most about art- gardens, to orchards. That entails calls, visits, ef- work and art classes. That’s what I fi nd most re- forts to help market them further. The bureau even warding about being on the board.” has teamed with local radio station WIMS to pro- mote businesses, attractions and individu- als on Mondays and Thursdays. Cooper remains optimistic. The reason why, though, catches you off guard. It speaks to something far more resilient, heartbreak- ing and inspirational. You see, Cooper is the only member of her immediate family alive today.